Walsh on standby for Colbert ride
Of the JP McManus-owned duo, McCoy has admitted to having a slight preference for the latter, trained by Martin Brassil.
Should that be the case, Walsh, who is used regularly by McManus in Ireland, will get the leg-up aboard Colbert Station, who unseated McCoy at The Chair in last year’s Grand National.
Trainer Ted Walsh: “He (Colbert Station) is all ready to go.
“I haven’t spoken to Tony about what he’s riding, though. I don’t expect to speak to him until I see him at the races on Thursday and he’ll have made his decision by then.
“If he picks Double Seven then Mark will be riding ours. I’ve no problem with that at all. Mark rides most of JP’s horses when Tony isn’t in Ireland anyway.”
Owner Andy Stewart admits the National has never been a lucky race for him, but he has his best chance for some time in the Paul Nicholls-trained Rocky Creek.
“My Will finishing third to Mon Mome (2009) is the best I’ve ever done,” he said.
“After Daryl Jacob finished second on Rocky Creek in the Hennessy and then second in the Argento he said we should be thinking of the Grand National and not the Gold Cup.
“Unfortunately for Daryl he is now injured, but we’ve secured Noel Fehily who is riding the crest of a wave at present.
“Rocky Creek definitely has a touch of class, just as Neptune Collonges did.
“It will be strange heading to Aintree without Big Buck’s to cheer home this season but I hope we have another reason to be cheerful.”
Tom Scudamore hopes to cap off his best ever season, which included a fantastic Cheltenham, by winning the National on The Package.
Success for the 11-year-old gelding would be an emotional one for trainer David Pipe and his team as he still runs in the colours of the late David Johnson, who gave the Pond House handler a National winner with Comply Or Die back in 2008.
The Package ran in the race four years ago when he unseated Graham Lee at the 19th fence.
“Obviously the fences are different and while they still take some jumping, I see no reason why he can’t cope with it,” Scudamore said.
“Obviously you don’t get another chance to run over four and a half miles but when I rode him in the Hennessy (2012, fourth) he was going better and better the further we went. I’ve always thought a marathon trip would hold no fear.
“He was able to compete at Cheltenham off his mark and I think he’s got a live chance.”
The going on the National course has been changed to good to soft, good in places, though heavy rain has been forecast.
